Searing UK heat leaves schools, hospitals and transport networks struggling to cope

Searing heat has swept the UK with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown. Temperatures hit highs of 34.6C in Wisley in Surrey, the Met Office said on Tuesday, with the UN chief warning that London was “cooking”. South-east England is expected to see temperatures of 38C on Wednesday and a maximum of 39C on Thursday. Those dizzying thermometer readings would shatter the previous June record of 35.6C, first set in in 1957 and reached again in 1976, and come close to the all-time milestone of 40.3C, reached in July 2022, which marked the first time anywhere in the UK experienced anything above 40C. Chart showing UK June temperatures over past 40 years The extreme heat came amid urgent warnings that the UK’s infrastructure was “built for a climate that no longer exists”. Coping measures implemented this week include: Reduced rail speeds and services; Hospital patient appointments cancelled; School closures across southern England and Wales; Hosepipe bans in south-east England; Spikes in sales of fans, ice-cream makers and sun cream. The UK’s Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday, while a red heat health alert was issued in England indicating “a risk to life for even the healthy population”. …